An e-bike rider was killed overnight in El Monte after a collision on a quiet residential street left the rider dead on the sidewalk next to the mangled cycle. The crash happened around 10:45 p.m. in the 4100 block of Richwood Avenue, and the driver stayed at the scene as police launched an investigation into what led up to the deadly wreck.
According to NBC Los Angeles, the El Monte Police Department confirmed one pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle, and video from the scene showed a damaged motorized bike lying on its side in the street along with an unresponsive body on the ground. Police remained at the scene as of 2:15 a.m. working to piece together the circumstances of the crash. ABC7 Los Angeles reported that the victim was ultimately found dead on the sidewalk next to the wrecked motorized cycle, adding detail to the scene beyond the initial police account.
Investigators Still Sorting Out Key Details
As of now, it remains unclear whether the motorized cycle involved met the legal definition of an e-bike or had been modified beyond street-legal limits. Under California Vehicle Code § 312.5, legal e-bikes must run motors that do not exceed 750 watts and fall into one of three classes, with Class 1 and 2 capped at 20 mph of assisted speed and Class 3 capped at 28 mph, according to FindLaw. Vehicles modified beyond those limits are not electric bicycles under state law and may fall into moped or motorcycle categories.
That distinction matters because California lawmakers have been cracking down on overpowered two-wheelers. California law also addresses devices or software that unlock e-bike speeds beyond legal limits, while e-bike riders are subject to the Vehicle Code on public roads and generally do not need DMV registration, license plates, or a driver's license, according to CalBike.
A Residential Street With Limited Bike Infrastructure
The crash site sits in the 4100 block of Richwood Avenue, where the collision occurred.
El Monte has struggled with traffic safety more broadly.
Statewide Surge In E-Bike Collisions
The El Monte crash arrives amid a broader spike in e-bike-related injuries across California. A study published in Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open, analyzing California Highway Patrol data from 2018 through 2024, identified 4,035 e-bike collisions statewide and documented an exponential rise in e-bike injuries over that period, compared with 58,332 traditional bicycle collisions during the same seven years.
Separately, Assembly Bill 1909, known as the OmniBike Bill, now requires drivers to change lanes when passing bicyclists or e-bike riders whenever road conditions allow, according to CalBike.
El Monte's overnight crash is the latest in a string of fatal e-bike incidents across Los Angeles County in recent months. Hoodline reported earlier this week on a fatal e-bike crash on Osborne Street in Arleta, following a similar deadly collision in North Hills. No further details on the identity of the El Monte victim or the specific cause of the crash have been released as the investigation continues.
